national day of prayer Communities to celebrate with programs

Staff report

Two communities will celebrate the National Day of Prayer on Thursday with programs.

The theme is “A Mighty Fortress is Our God.”

The City Prayer Team of Youngstown will sponsor a morning service from 7:15 to 8:30 a.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church, 30 W. Front St., Youngstown.

Worship leader will be Elder Darren Thomas of Calvary Ministries International.

A community observance is scheduled from noon to 1:15 p.m. on West Federal Plaza, downtown Youngstown.

Pastor Juan Rivera of New Life Church will be the speaker.

Providing music will be Voices of Hope choir of Williamson Elementary School.

For information, contact Linda Daniels at 330-799-1713 or Alice Marshall at 330-783-5702.

In New Waterford, students from the community youth group Element 79 will play key roles in this year’s National Day of Prayer service at 7 p.m. at Crestview High School, 44100 Crestview Road.

The service, open to the public, will feature the Element 79 band leading worship and a student praying during a segment on education.

Element 79 is a student-led community youth group representing several local churches that meets the first and third Sunday nights at Crestview High School.

The National Day of Prayer, now in its 60th year, brings together key segments of society with the goal of corporately acknowledging God as the foundation for all areas of life.

Participating in this year’s event will be: Logan Rance, education; Dan Pecchia, media; Jon Vollnogle, business; Linda Bolon, government; Ron Dicken, family; Tim Pollock, military; and Jay Radman, churches.

The Crestview High School band and Columbiana American Legion Color Guard also will participate.

Jerry and Marilyn Mong, New Waterford residents, are the coordinators.

The service is sponsored by the 4C’s (Crestview Churches Community Concerns), which includes Abundant Life Fellowship, East Fairfield United Methodist Church, Middleton Friends Church, New Waterford Methodist Church, New Waterford Presbyterian Church and Zion Lutheran Church.

A collection will be taken for the 4C’s, which operates a food pantry and provides utility and other emergency assistance to families in the district.